Atheist Blogger- the godlessvagina / Podcaster the pink atheist

Monthly Archives: June 2013

What people most misunderstand about their gender, sexual orientation and who they really are, is what really defines them. While most creationists are in the dark about how there would even be two sexes if we evolved, some of us know it gets even more complicated from there. In fact, highly confusing, and a bit genetically messy. In order to explain the disorders, and orders which make you who you are, we have to take a look into the genes, and start by how and why we got here.

When I say how we got here, I don’t mean who designed us, because there is no design, as I will point out. What I want you to understand it how you think you are made, and who you think you are, may not be the entire truth. In fact what I am about to point out may be lurking inside of you.

Having two sexes is in biologically important to gene shuffling, and creating diversity within the human race. The divergence of sexes is nothing new. In bacteria they even behave like two sexes at times. They go through a process where one bacteria links to the other by conjugation tube and in an open space trades genetic material. Once that is done the materials are exchanged and the bacteria removes the tube. Then it goes on to self replicate creating a new gene combination.

The first plants went through a similar process, with two generations of the plant, the sporophyte generation, and the gametophyte generation. The spores would pollinate other plants as well as itself while the gametophyte made many copies of the plants new generations. So diversity is nothing new. And for those who are not up on science, I will make the next part easy for you.

Once you have a method of reproduction like an egg sperm, and you have an amniotic environment, like everything since amphibians use, it is easy to establish sexes. Since you can’t do genetic mixing, or recombination without two sexes, it must have been more advantageous for genes to mix by sexual diversion. Species that have both sexual organs tend to self impregnate, and the genetic diversity in these species is lower. They are also lower species, like worms, and cockroaches. More complex species use the single sex, intercourse method of reproduction.

Where that branched out may be as far back as the early Cambrian sea. While it works, and works well, there is no flawless method of creating offspring. That is what my next part is about. Think you know why people are gay, or a man feels like a woman trapped in a mans body? The truth might lie deep in the genes, and it is nothing shameful or wrong. In fact if it is the cause, it is only nature at work, and perhaps a slip back towards the time when we were one sex. No not humans, but that far too distant ancestor to even elaborate how far back the chain goes.

Some men, and it is mostly men, if not always carry a genetic anomaly. Just one or a few extra chromosomes.

There are several genetic anomalies in which children, though predominately men, have more than one x chromosome. If they are male they have XXY and if they are female they have XXX though mostly men face this. It does have some effects on their growth, and testicles and even their IQ. Wheather or not it influences their sexual behavior, no one knows. Mostly because studies done on homosexuals in the past have been largely biased, and related to calling it a disease, instead of seeing it for what it is, and that is a normal part of nature.

Like genes, and their sometimes incidental recombination, people don’t always come out with one particular sexual orientation. While this was and is misunderstood, it is not at all abnormal. Over 300 other species show signs of homosexual behaviors, meaning that if we studied sexual patterns across the globe in species, we might learn not all the males or females want to be heterosexual either. Having a extra gene can define a person. Just like a sexual orientation does, and while it has not been studied and linked, it should be checked. Not by any imagination to alienate, or treat it in order to eliminate homosexuals. One thing that should be understood in this age, is that homosexuality is not just about sex, it is about love. Homosexuals love, and have families who love, and have every right to be treated with the same understanding and love that we give to any other person. Looking into the genetics of how and why should be about looking into the truth, that we are not all defined by one sexual orientation, gene, or nature.

Just because a person is born with certain sexual organs, does not define who they are, or what sex they will want or need. It only gives us a general idea of what they are. They can be female by birth, and yet chemically, and genetically a male. Or they can be male by birth, and chemically and genetically a female. We are still learning all the roles the primary gene orders, induction of hormones, sexual development all play in who we are. Even a protein acting on a nucleotide base can alter actions and if it is a hormone, behaviors.

Biology is only the beginning base of our construct, by the time a person is ready for sex, they have been through the biology, the hormones, the sociology, and are an individual. Genes are not the final say so, nor are hormones, nor is social structure. Ultimately our biology makes us one thing, just who we are, but it does not define everything.

A large majority of women are aroused at lesbian porn. They are aroused at gay porn, and heterosexual porn, while a large majority of straight males are only aroused at lesbian and hereto porn. Women seem to be more sexual in the brain, while men are more in the sexual organs. Yet who we are and how we behave is only in part how we are socialized. Most of our behavior is defined by things we have no control over.

Many people think that being straight is the natural default of humans and all species, but there may in fact be no natural default. We may tend to just be sexual and through socialization learn what is acceptable. This however can be damaging to a persons true sexual need and nature. While creationists are ready to label all sex but procreation sex as immoral wrong and perverse, it is by no means true. What they have done is revert the process of sexuality to being something they can only define, and they don’t even have any proof or evidence for their claims.

The biological nature of humans has been skewed by religious doctrines. Even some of the most religious men may carry these extra chromosomes, sexual desires, and needs. They may believe that there is a default sexual orientation. Once again showing where the old ways of determining what is right is flawed, and need scrapped. Humans need to be looked at honestly and as a whole. So that the reality of our sexual biology can be studied and understood.

It may come as no real surprising event that the bill too provide Atheist Chaplains to military personnel who classify themselves as nones, but there were some shocks along the road. Amazing that this even has to be voted on in the Senate, as it is, the surprise here could not be the fact that it was a majority no vote. Every Republican voted no, which should not be shocking. The most unearthing things come further in why it didn’t pass.

It was not just the arrogance of the Republicans which made this much needed bill to fail.It was also on the part of Democrats which had 44 votes of no. Now we tend to think of Democrats as liberal and open minded, but inevitably, some of them can bring their imaginary friends and religious bigotry to the Senate with them. That is exactly what happened. While that extra 44 votes may not have made it a majority vote, it would have meant a lot to those atheists in uniforms who are currently serving our country, and giving their lives for what they believe in and also what they don’t. Yet they were dismissed by the legislatures.

It is vital for them to have someone to counsel them. After all the religious in the military can’t see things from the perspective of an atheist, and atheists don’t see things from the perspective of a religious person. So why send them to someone who will just tell them to have faith in something they don’t even believe in. The grief and need for understanding is different when you don’t believe there is an afterlife or a magic place where you will see your friends or loved ones again. So it is important to be understood as you see things.

In the reverse someone seeking comfort of thinking they will see their loved ones again would want to see someone who could give them their own perspective of comfort and this is openly afforded them, but atheist who want a reality based counseling are denied it. This denies them the feeling that they really belong in the military or that the government and nation they serve to protect really care about them or their needs.

There are atheists in foxholes and they come out, sometimes in need of care and understanding and they don’t want to be told that someone is watching over them, guiding them, and helping them when they clearly don’t believe. That is not comforting to them, and it heals nothing. We live in reality of what is, and while atheists can take it better, our soldiers are not people of steel, and they do need understanding.

The atheist chaplain would not just serve for counseling, but setting the standard of equality for all those who believe and who don’t. One would expect that a chaplain of every denomination could not possibly be part of the military, but for religions or atheists there should be a few choices. If someone was doubting their faith, they might want to go to a religious chaplain and an atheist one for comfort and answers.

Once again though the government has said that atheists are not part of this country. Even though we are natural born citizens, even though we vote, pay taxes, live and function as part of our society and military. We are once again told that we don’t rate, and that our needs have no value. While it is surprising that it got that many yes votes, there was no shock in it being voted down. Simply Americans believe the religious right of the country when they tell them we are not Americans, and this sickens me greatly.

If for only once the bigotry in our nation was not so great as to deny comfort to our fellow humans. If only once they could leave their petty religious dogmas at home and function for the good of the nation and not their dogmatic thinking. Perhaps we could give comfort to those who have a great need for it. Those who are serving on the front lines in battles and seeing death. They should not be denied the right to their own form of comfort and understanding. Not on the part of men who can’t even know what it is like to give your life for your country while your country rejects and denies you.Democracy is supposed to represent everyone, not just those with the money and power to control.

The disregarding notion that if you play nice with a bully, they will play nice with you, to me, seems not only absurd but derelict of common sense and rationality. Religion is a bully, and every religion a different kind of bully. They range from the bully who convinces you to do their dirty work and be their slave, to the bully who beats you repeatedly and then blames you for not being able to defend yourself. The problem is, these bullies have had full reign for thousands of years, and when secular people try and shut them down, inevitably someone cries foul, and not always from the other side. This is where I protest, and detest those who have this apathetic stance of get along for the sake of getting along. Like if you just walk further around the bully they won’t make time to come beat you up. After all, they are only bullying because you are in their direct line of fire. Wrong, and preposterous. They bully because they get a thrill out of the power, and ability to control others.

It is time to stop blaming the victims, and make no mistake, secular people are the victims. Religion is a bunch of bullies, and they are ruining it for everyone. Take Christianity, for example, as our first bully. When they are caught in some miserable act of bullying others, and trying to proclaim their domination by numbers, they often cry foul and wail until their fellow members come to their side, and aid in bullying others. It is a job for them to go out and tell people how they are discriminated against, and how they are victims of other religions encroaching upon their society. If you listened to the most popular of the Christian leaders long enough, you would think America was nothing more than a huge Nazi camp, and parts of it are Auschwitz. Meanwhile, Christians are gathering money and resources to pay to politicians, so they can legislate everything from what marriage is, to what non Christian women can do with their bodies. They are the bully who likes to trip the other kids on the playground, mock and ridicule them, and blame them for their suffering.

Islam is one of the worst bullies. Though not as highly prevalent here in the United states. They are the bullies that don’t just trip you, they pound you into the dirt while telling you that it is what is best for you, since you are a worthless, non conforming piece of trash. Their leaders are content to let the masses do harm to others and bully because ultimately this religion feeds on fear. They are the bully, who does it just because they can, and no one dares to stop them. Especially since they do the minority cry, and then blow some stuff up, or kill people in their massive outbursts of rage. Sane and normal people fear them, fear being killed by them, and try to evade them, and being targeted by them.

There are many small religions out there that can’t bully near as well as the first two. They just try and convince you to join them, offering protection, and care taking, or some crackpots thinking.The reality of it is that you still join the bullies. One of the groups running around trying to collect people, make them think and behave the same for the better good of the bully system, and then grow masses so they can gain control.

The problem here is this. Secular people tend to be of many minds, they don’t want to conform. They are the happy content kids on the playground that run around and enjoy the time swinging and climbing the bars, and just living. Sure they will get together to hear about what is going on, but then they go back to their play. The bullies on the other hand, don’t want to see anyone enjoying life and all it has to offer. So they try and pick off the weakest, and easiest kids. They pinpoint weaknesses and attack. Then when the happy little secular kids get together and try to fight the bully back, inevitably one of them is offended that we would dare to rise to their tactics.

The problem is, when you do nothing about something horrible going on around you, it does not stop, it becomes exacerbated to the point someone is really harmed. Like during the Salem Witch trials, or the Crusades. Those were times when the bullies had full control of the playground, and used it to annihilate the competition by horrible uses of force and torture. That can’t be the case ever again. When we fight court battles, and win or lose, when we come out and say we won’t be bullied, when we stand up for our place in the world, we are fighting back. It is justified, because one more life lost to the bullies is a life lost. One more death because of bullying religions is a death because of bullies.

Why should we ever feel guilty about trying to save people, make points, and stand up for our right to exist, be free and enjoy our world? The answer is, we shouldn’t. The time has come for the bullies to go, for them to understand this world and all of its beauty belongs to all of us. That we have the right to enjoy them not trampling on our sovereignty and humanity. We are just as valuable, worthy, and equal to any and all of them. The difference is we are not actively trying to force what we don’t believe down their throats, but trying to reclaim our right to our humanity. So what if people on our own side disagree. Apparently they don’t know what it has already cost us in untold millions of deaths, beatings, stonings, and horrors beyond compare.

This is justified, and bullies don’t ever just stop bullying. Instead they become more aggressive and abusive. We deserve better than to be abused in our own nation. We deserve to stand along side any of our fellow Americans, or humans and say we have just as much value, rights, and equalities as them. It is not that we want to be a bully, and we feel left out. It is that we want to bring the bully back down to our size so that we can just move on and enjoy what we have.

Sometimes the only option left, after you have tried everything is to sock it to the bully. I am not one for violence, but when words and examples, and please for rationality fail, you ball up your fist, roll up your sleeves and do what needs to be done. Religion should not get the right to do everything they want, hurt everyone they want, and misuse power to steal all of the joy from others lives. So if you don’t like what the secular community is doing to take the playground back, perhaps you would like to be the one to take on the bullies alone, if not, then don’t tell us how to fight against them when it comes time to not be bullied any longer.

Atheists are far outnumbered, and this makes dating other atheists a hard task at best. So often atheists try to find non practicing or moderate Christians to date, and sometimes they just wind up falling in love. Like two different cultures, this can be hectic, straining, and sometimes quite impossible. Especially when you hit the triggers, and the debates come on. Many people can’t survive the grand Canyon that comes between the two points of view.

Many theists have a narrow scope of vision about atheists. The tend to think that we are just as religious about our lack of belief as they are about their belief. This couldn’t be farther from the truth, though it is a rehearsed and reverberated lie sold to the masses at length. Most atheists have left the dogmatic thinking of resolved divine answers without questions, to question everything. Including why they believe anything and everything that they do. Some atheists have just abandoned the faith and see no reason to believe. This doesn’t qualify as religion, but religion does, and explaining to someone who refuses to see how you are different, why you are different can be nearly impossible. Spending time defending your lack of belief over and over can be daunting for even the best of us.

Dogmatism: This word should scare atheists. The dogmatic mind seeks to co-opt other minds. Convinced that there is dogmatism in us all, and that we are controlled by some grand designer, whether by permission, or circumstance. These kind of people want to put us under the control of religion, siting every possible flaw in our life as the need to return to mindlessly following along the religious spectrum. They can be different types of dangerous to atheists trying to date. The free willed dogmatist, the religious zealot in hiding, and the self sacrificing dogmatist who thinks that through sex and manipulation they can herd you back into the flock, and god will see the value of their sexual and physical sacrifice. Each of the perverts the nature of a relationship, and when children get involved, can destroy many lives.

It is hard for many reasons, to be an atheist who is dating. Mostly because we are seen as unfeeling, monsters who care nothing for morality. The biggest offense though is saying we are closed minded because we refuse to acknowledge how there could be a grand designer out there just waiting to save us from ourselves.

The problem is that from each side, the other looks a bit crazy. We can’t help it. One side sees the delusion of the religious and the religious live happy and content with their delusion. Even at the expense of life, and harm, and untold suffering. One side is always curious about the other, and more is they can’t see it from the other person’s perspective. So it makes for hard times. Even if the religious person is willing to understand, unless they leave the dogma, they can never really stop themselves from trying hard to implant the virus. (Unless they are Jews)

The ontological argument fails. The argument for design fails, the argument of god can’t be known fails. It all fails. This leaves religious people with only fear and anger. At first it can be dismissed because of the biological chemicals that are being produced, but ultimately there will be a high cost to both parties. It is sad to see how people will defend their virus, even using kids as a shield, or worse, purposely indoctrinating them against free thinking.

There can be few who stand the test. Mostly because there will never be evidence to prove a creator, nor to deny one. But the burden of proof falls to those who fail to look for it, and thus the fight continues. We watch as, like dominos, love falls apart at the hands of those who can’t reconcile the god/no god battle.

Atheists don’t stand on the same ground as theists, as we are well aware. We are hated, cursed, discriminated against, murdered, and pushed out of the very core of society. We are in essence the thinking outlaws, spreading a cure amongst people that is unwanted by the masses. We scare them, and panic them, plague them with worries. We are the ones who drive them from their safe hiding placed deep within the dreams of their delusions, and for that we pay a sore price.

But we are the ones who can see real morality, living without dogma, and with freedom from fear based on a pre determined destiny. We struggle to get by, and give no thanks nor plead help from a divine source. We give thanks to our fellow man, and help others without thought for reward, and hope for paradise. We are just simple people.

When it comes to dating though, we cross lines that can be hard, if not devastating to cross. Mostly because the desire to be loved and cared for is there, maybe more so, because we are smart. Smart people often face a harder time with love, because it is hard to be accepted when you can point out all the flaws in people and the logic you seek so hard. It can be hard because you might not have been exposed to all the in’s and out of social life, and the social norms. Atheists have some of the hardest lives, because they strive to be more than just mindless people following, but they happen to be some of our greatest minds. Yet it simply doesn’t fare well when it comes to matters of the heart, and the loving, and living.